Father keeps son's memory alive

With one knock on the front door, John P.T. Gordon’s life was changed forever.

On May 18, 2008, Gordon answered the front door to find a sheriff and chaplain standing outside, prepared to tell him his son was killed.

Gordon said his 35-year-old son, John Travis Gordon (known as Rusty), was killed by a driver who was texting. That driver, he said, swerved into the wrong lane, hitting and killing Rusty, who was riding a motorcycle.

Gordon and Rusty were bailiffs in Marion County, Ohio, working in the same courthouse.

Now retired, Gordon presents “Rusty’s Story,” a 45-minute presentation dedicated to his son’s memory to raise awareness about distracted driving.

On Tuesday, Gordon will present to students in Woodland Hills High School, marking his first time in Pittsburgh.

By the end of Tuesday, he said he’ll have presented to 17,000 high schoolers.

“Advocates would love to have a hands-free law nationwide,” said Gordon. “The dangers of distracted driving, whether it’s cellphone usage or eating and drinking, are you cannot concentrate on two things at the same time.”

Gordon and his wife recorded a video with the NTSB about distracted driving. They continue to share their story to anyone who will listen. This includes work environments, schools and businesses. Businesses in particular have a great financial cost if one of their employees is involved in a work-related distracted-driving scenario, he said.

To schedule a program, contact Elaine McCoy at the North Central Ohio Educational Service Center, (419) 447-2927 or emccoy@ncoesc.org.

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